Sustainable farming can feed the world

[nosmokes]

original





On World Food Day, Swiss agricultural specialist Hans Rudolf Herren tells swissinfo that hunger can be overcome if farming practices are improved.
 
Herren, who won the World Food Prize in 1995 for helping to save cassava crops throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, says rich countries need to support education and to do more research.
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the article doesn't copy well but it's a quick read.
 

[Octafish]

1. Thanks for the heads-up, nosmokes.

Real hope.



I also noticed the BFEE agribusiness arm at work...

 
swissinfo: So, does the adoption of GM technology in developing nations have more to do with politics?
 
H.R.H.: It has a lot to do with politics and economics. American companies are pushing for the adoption of GM technology and there are lobbyists hard at work in Africa and other continents. Maybe this technology does some good, but there are alternatives that are much cheaper.

We have done our research on this and have shown you can apply other technologies that are far more farmer-friendly. African farmers can't afford GM technology - they can't even afford fertiliser.

So I don't think it is the right thing in the right place at the right time. We need to address the needs of farmers, find solutions that actually help and attain sustainable agricultural production as promoted by the FAO.

SOURCE:

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=107&sid=6157727&cKey=1129451815000

[wuushew]

2. Like medicine, feeding everyone is possible NOW

unfortunately the system of economics we currently practice is not compatible with basic human dignity and survival needs.

Only more socialism can save the human race.

[nosmokes]

3. you definitely picked out the key piece octa.

and couple that with our policies that actually dissuade africa from growing food to feed herself, instead pumping money intothe chem/agrocorps here that are poisoning us and the the starving and the earth. i'm just so sick and tired of seeing every damn thing processed into something that no longer resembles anything real any longer, that contains so many additives and colorings and preservatives and flavorings. for pete's sake, if it's real food ya don't need all that shit. and hormones in the milk and girls starting menses at 9 or 10 and the food on your plate has travelled an average of 1400 miles to get there, and conventional farming means that you dump poison all over your food crop, and i'd someone to answer me just WTF is conventional about poisoning the food we eat?

i'm sorry. it's just so frustrating sometimes. people will write a check to an organization, but they won't take the time to truly educate themselves and go for real organic stuff, not the dole crap or the whole foods pseudo organic, or they'll bitch about the cost. but the alternative is a lot more work and a lot costlier.